Patchwork Universe

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Terminus

Peri looked rather bemused, glancing down at her scuffed and patched trousers. She decided not to pursue it further. "Cake would be great," she said. "I'm very keen on picnics, actually. I've been to quite a few. There was that fantastic full-moon beach party I went to on the Island of..." An expression of distress passed across her face. "Well, never mind where it was. Great party, anyway."

She slid the rucksack straps off her shoulders. "Don't worry, it doesn't bite. I'm Peri. Mind if I join you for a while?"

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: 06 Jul 2004 11:07 pm Post subject:

"No, I don't think we've got any perry, sorry. You should come and visit Aldersley at some point. They make a very crisp refreshing perry down at the farm. I could have some brought up to the manor if you'd like. Except I'm not going to be there much, being off on a Grand Tour and so long, but I'll tell them to expect you. You might want to put on a skirt though. Mama and Papa are very particular about that sort of thing.

"Jonathan and Jessamin were going to tell us about what it's like to live here, I think. It's pretty dangerous sometimes - there are snakes and dragons and, well, lots of other things. Best to stay away from them, really. Don't go underground - that's where the monsters live. You see it's useful to know these things. Anyway, I'm interrupting the children. Children, you must tell me to shush when I get carried away. Otherwise my head might fall off. Or you won't get to talk. Neither of which would be good.

Jones · Posted: 07 Jul 2004 11:44 am Post subject:

Jessamin patted Lady Violetta's arm kindly.
"Violetta wants to write a travel book, she's trying the cake and the grown-up lemonade so she can write about it in her guide," she explained.

Pointing to a group of people clustered together some distance away she continued:
"Some of the grown-ups are hunting the monsters that escaped from the cellar, and the others are making sure all the fire is put out. The dragon burned up the roof and flew away with the outside privy so if you need to use one you have to go inside."

Not to be left out Jonathan said:
"You can have some lemonade if you want as well as cakes, I'll get you a glass." Darting into the kitchen and returning he added.

"Violetta was getting us to do local colour by telling her about living here so you can listen to us tell her while you have cake. Are you writing a travel guide as well?"

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Terminus

Peri had broken into a grin at the words "Grand Tour"; it got even wider when Jessamin mentioned the travel book.

"Actually, I am," she said. "I want to put together a guide to every last bit of this Quilt - the whole Patchwork in your pocket. But it's a big job." She looked at Lady Violetta. "Vio - um - Lady Kingsley - I'm very glad to have met you. I'm looking for researchers to help me in my task. How does that sound to you?"

She took a sip of the 'grown-up lemonade' and her eyes widened. "Thanks, Jonathan," she said.

To Violetta, she went on, "If you want to write for me, I can help you get around."

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: 07 Jul 2004 12:57 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta looked thoughtful. "A job? No, I don't think that would be proper at all. Mama would never forgive me. But it seems as though we've struck upon the same idea. That's very good. It is a sound scientifc principle that an experiment should be repeated, otherwise the results might change. I want to learn about how things work, you see - that's another purpose for writing, because I think this whole patchwork thing has to make some sort of sense, and the cows won't tell me what's going on, or maybe they can't so I have to find out for myself, you see. And if I can tell other people where to go so as not to get attacked by vicious monsters unless they really want that to happen, which I don't think they would, but, well, people like lots of strange things. Then hopefully no more priests will die, unless that's what the cows are planning, but I don't think so."

"You see, I've got a theory. Cow Sheng the Janitor and his friends are in charge, but I don't think they're in control. Otherwise he'd have stopped the dragon from killing the priest. And now everyone thinks it's his fault, but I'm not so sure. I can't believe that someone so polite would actually want to kill anyone, you see. No, I think we must look elsewhere for the cause, since they're all part of the effect."

"But anyway, we weren't talking about that were we? Travel Guides, yes. Well there's no point in going on a grand tour unless you can write it down so people can read about it, and if you know a quick way to travel, I'm sure that would be very useful, since things do seem to move about rather a lot. Perhaps rather than employment we can help each other out in some way? I'm not sure quite how I could help you though. If you'd like a horse to get around on, we have plenty at Aldersley. Oh, Blackie! I'd quite forgotten. Still Mr. Sheng said she was alright.

"You can call me Lady Violetta, dear. All my friends do. Or rather they would, I suppose." An uncharacteristic hint of melancholy came over Lady Violetta's face. "But yes children, please do tell us about your local colour. I suspect that we would both enjoy that greatly. In the meantime, I think I'll have some more of this flowery stuff."

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Terminus

"It's not so much a job as a collaboration," Peri said. "Helping each other out, like you said. Don't worry about horses - just writing would be help enough. Say, if I didn't pay you wages, but arranged for your Travelogue to be displayed where many other travellers could read and learn from it - would that annoy your mother?"

She blushed slightly as she spoke. It was very strange to be reassuring someone that you weren't going to pay them for their work.

"See, your ideas about making sense of things seem to fit in very well with mine," she went on.

The children were fidgeting, clearly impatient to tell more about their home. Usually you had to draw people out; this wasn't a chance Peri wanted to miss. "Yes, please, tell us more."

She sat back and took another bite of the delicious cake. Jones's would definitely be getting a good food review. Not like that Museum place, where it seemed unfeasibly complicated to even get a cup of tea...

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: 07 Jul 2004 01:24 pm Post subject:

"Oh, I'd rather worried about distribution myself. That sounds like a very good idea. How would you do that, exactly?"

Jones · Posted: 07 Jul 2004 03:23 pm Post subject:

Jessamin interupted, obviously feeling she had been waiting long enough.

"Anyway," she said, importantly. "This is Jones' Public House. Jones is our grandad. When he came here he had nothing but an axe... this is a good story. Dad told it to us but it's long so I'll get to the good bits. Anyway, he and grandma killed a lot of monsters and got treasure and all sorts of things and built the pub so that people would have a place to stay when they came."

"So now people come from all over," Jonathan agreed. "I like the pirates best. So does my aunt Jane but she's gone off somewhere now." He looked about vaguely, as if expecting Jane to reappear at the mention of her name.

"I like Quin. We helped him build a kite to attack monsters." Jessamin took back control of the narrative. "So, what we do all day is we play games, and Dad teaches us about weapons and Mum teaches us about herbs and plants. Then we go down into the cellars and fight some monsters."

"We have to be 'supervised'," Jonathan added scathingly. "But someday we'll be allowed to go on our own."

"Yes, and we're not allowed to go out beyond the mist either," Jessamin said sadly. "Grandad didn't let Dad go until it was time for him to get married. But Mum says perhaps we can go before that..." her face was alight with hope as she added. "I do hope we can go to Violetta's house for tea and go in the goldflyer."

"We're the only children here," Jon put in. "Just us and Aunt Jessica's baby... and aunt Jane but she's practically a grown-up."

"Violetta?" Jessamin asked. "If you and Peri meet any other children perhaps you could tell them about us and... and... ask them if they want to write us letters, maybe? Jane told us that when she was younger she had a friend who she wrote to from another place and when people travelled to the pub they brought the letters with them."

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: 07 Jul 2004 03:37 pm Post subject:

Lady Violetta was lost in thought again for a few moments. "Hmm, I can see why your parents wouldn't want you travelling past the fog. It does seem to get ... rather unpredictable. Still, I have an idea, so we can kill two dragons with one stone. I will see if the goldflier can be taken through the fog. Then maybe we could come and pick you and your parents if they wanted up for tea. We could probably invite everyone at the pub, unless you would prefer it to be just you two and your parents. I suspect they may not allow you to leave without coming with you though.

"In the meantime I shall certainly look out for penfriends for you, and I could bring you books from the library if you would like that. There are some I enjoyed reading when I was your age.

"So your mother came from beyond the mists? Has she told you about where she is from?"

Jones · Posted: 07 Jul 2004 04:26 pm Post subject:

"She's from the rose garden," Jonathan explained. "And uncle Jareth's from Snark's towers."

Peri · God Joined: 29 May 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Terminus

"As it happens," Peri said, "there's a safe way of getting to Lady Violetta's house right now." She paused, remembering the graffiti on the side of the train. "Well, fairly safe. Probably. I think."

A thought struck her. "You know, Lady Violetta, if you were thinking of visiting home anyway, that would be the perfect reason to show you this new way of getting around." She gave a conspiratorial grin and lowered her voice. "No one else knows about it yet. It'd be an exclusive for you. And I can tell you about the distribution plans on the way."

The children were listening with saucer-like eyes. "We'd better not bring you guys yet," Peri said hastily, "I don't think your parents would be very keen on that. But once we've checked out the route and proved it's all okay, maybe you can ask them if we can take you to the Manor for tea?"

She patted her rucksack. "I'm sure the Ferocious Creature has a skirt in it somewhere."

Jones · Posted: 08 Jul 2004 03:09 pm Post subject:

"Well it was nice meeting you," Jessamin said, remembering her manners.
"Don't forget about telling other children where we live," Jonathan added.
"And about how good the cakes are here," Jessamin continued.

Lady Violetta Kingsley · Posted: 08 Jul 2004 05:04 pm Post subject:

"I suspect that even I shall hardly forget either your existence or the cakes. It was very pleasant meeting you. Don't forget to ask your parents if you can come and visit, and hopefully next time, we'll bring you along."

Rising to her feet, she courtseyed to the children by way of parting and then headed off with Peri in the direction of Jonestown station. On the way they took a quick detour via the stables, but since it was clear that Blackie was long gone, Lady Violetta simply had to hope that she hadn't been eaten and would turn up at some point.

[Lady Violetta and Peri move to the Jonestown station: Investigating the Station thread.]